Al Ain may be having their worst season in three years, but that does not seem to have dimmed Omar Abdulrahman’s reputation as the UAE playmaker has been linked with another high-profile European club – this time Liverpool.
A report in the English newspaper The Daily Star claims manager Brendan Rodgers is planning to make a move. Abdulrahman, who led Al Ain to back-to-back UAE titles in 2011/12 and last term, caught the attention of Europe’s top clubs with his performances for the UAE at the 2012 London Olympics. Shortly after, Abdulrahman went on a week-long trial at Manchester City, owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed.
Last summer he was the subject of relentless speculation, with Spanish side Valencia linked, and Al Ain turning down an offer from Arsenal to take Abdulrahman, 22, on trial.
Now Liverpool – who are after a wide player after missing out on Mohamed Salah and Yevhen Konoplyanka – are reportedly ready to pay £5 million (Dh30.1m) to bring him to Anfield, though Al Ain have yet to hear from the English club.
“At this moment it is news for us too,” an Al Ain official said last night. “We really do not know if there is any truth behind this story. There wasn’t even a hint that Omar was in the Liverpool radar. We believe it is just speculation as we believe it at this moment.”
